Movies I Like That Everybody Else Doesn't

If you didn't read the description (odds are that you didn't), then I'll say it again. This is a movie that I didn't think was anything great myself, but one that I felt received far too much criticism. I know what you guys are thinking (especially you Indiana Jones devotees), but allow me to explain. I know people didn't want this movie to happen, I know that it's essentially cashing in on a hit franchise, and I know the movie itself was pretty ridiculous. With all of that said, my argument is this. To those of you who ripped this movie a new asshole...did you really take this as seriously as you did?

I honestly think it makes less sense for people to have been so disappointed over a fourth Indy than the movie itself. We all knew nothing stupendous would come out of it. We were all saying how much of a sellout it was and would be beforehand. We all saw it coming so you really have no place to whine about it. But what can be done is actually take some good things out of this. Indy was still your traditional Indy, even for his aging. I liked how it made references to the previous films (such as the Ark appearing and touching on Indy's fear of snakes yet again). I even felt it still managed to give you a bit of a nostalgic throwback, even if it was a complete sellout. Hell when I saw this in the theater, when Shia LaBeouf (yeah, that much was annoying) asked if Indy was a teacher and he responded "part-time," the audience applauded it. So on the grand scheme of things, it's still a convoluted sellout, but it does still retain some very nostalgic properties of the real series.

Before I move on, there's one more argument I feel I should make applying my point. And that's with what I think got the most beef from fans. The fridge. Once again, I'm forced to ask if you people really took this as seriously as you did. Not only are you calling this out for not being any way at all practical, you're calling something out of an INDIANA JONES MOVIE completely impractical (you seem to not remember the falling raft from Temple of Doom). When I saw this in the theater, I didn't think for a second that this was at all to be taking seriously. Hell, when I went to see it in theaters, I was laughing my ass off because I just thought it was the most random thing ever. So come on people, get with the program and lighten up (or at least take a hint when it's smacking you in the face).

If you read my list of movies I didn't like that everyone did, you're probably thinking that this is out of my own personal envy for James Cameron. However, of the three movies I posted of his, Aliens I feel had the least biased argument, and holds up in terms of me pointing out some good points in Alien 3. Again, this isn't so much a movie that I find especially good or underrated. I do think it's still the weakest of the three, but there's some things I feel that Alien 3 got right.

The pace was slow and the setting was very surreal when you compare it to the rest of the series. But one thing I felt this movie accomplished was going back to its roots. In the first movie, the lone alien acted very independently and adapted to its environment. Once again, we see another lone alien in this one, and it too behaves in the same way. Another way it got back to roots was taking away weapons. The people needed to use logic and the machinery they had to outsmart the alien this time around. Another thing I admire is showing the alien in a different form (being a xenomorph, it takes on the traits of its host, this time it being a dog). Though we never did see it completely (another trait from the original), I thought it was a clever concept. One other thing I can say I like about it was incorporating the whole mythology (meaning Cameron's as well), so I liked the incorporation of a queen yet again. Though the film doesn't hold up as well as it may have sounded on paper, it still illustrates interesting concepts. And to it's credit, it was David Fincher's first full length feature. But hey, he sure as hell didn't let this keep him from the promising career he had ahead of him.

I just know some of you are rolling your eyes right now. I don't know how it was over in the UK, but for us here in the States, we were advertised that this is a movie about these rebellious guys who saved rock 'n roll. Aaaaaand we didn't quite get that. But after seeing it a couple times after, I feel like it was falsely advertised. I know I really bashed some movies that didn't have a cohesive story in my last list (they may have even lacked one altogether), but one thing that I like about this movie in the end is that it doesn't try to be that kind of movie. It's simply about these colorful, nutty people having the time of their life broadcasting a great era of music. It's a very laid back kind of movie with witty humor and a great soundtrack (not too dissimilar from what I got out of The Big Lebowski). You know, I just thought of this, but there's a parallel in the movie that I think if quite clever. On the other side of the story, you have the system trying so desperately to shut down this station and taking it all far too seriously. But as they are, this doesn't even phase the broadcasters (that is until the system is finally successful). They don't even care so long as they're able to do what they love and enjoy all the little things that go with it. After all, isn't that what life's really all about?

Here's another movie that isn't meant to be taken too seriously. I actually saw a similar point between this and Death Race with Jason Statham, but because I've Punisher the most recently, that's the one I'm going to talk about. I've heard a lot of people talk about the Punisher movie with Thomas Kane, but I never hear anyone mention this one. Maybe the one I saw was poorly advertised, I don't know. But for whatever reason, this is the one I know. And what I got out of it was a fun shoot-'em-up movie. Nothing deep, and nothing elaborate either. But it doesn't really try to be. It's just a lot of fun with its stylized violence, over the top gore, and colorful lighting.

Ok, I'll get it over with and just say it...Star Wars: Episode I is my guilty pleasure. Though I don't think this nearly as much as I thought with Crystal Skull (the criticism of this movie for the most part is very much fair), I still think people's reaction to this is a bit over the top. This time, it's more so because they can't find ANYTHING good to say about it when, in fact, I think there's still plenty to be said on its behalf. I mean, yeah, you have your obvious problems like Jar-Jar Binks and Jake Lloyd as Anakin (though to his credit, aren't most kids his age supposed to be annoying anyway?). But what good stuff is there?

Well, for one, this came before the prequels where the ENTIRE movie was swamped by CGI. There was still a lot of built sets and models that they used to film Episode I, and that much I appreciated. I thought it was cool to show how the Jedi were back before the Empire. I enjoyed Ewan McGregor's portrayal as a young Obi-Wan (arguably the best part of the prequels), as well as Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn. Though I've heard the latter receive some criticism, I don't really see why. I thought he was cool, and had a unique outlook on things. Though the villains didn't compare in any way to Vader, I still thought Darth Maul had some style to him. And you know what? I'll take this time to indulge in a lot of the flashyness of the movie. Yes, I enjoyed the ramped up lightsaber combat, as well as Duel of the Fates (come on people, at least take away an epic battle song from this). And you know what, I even enjoyed the pod race. It was a different side of the galaxy that we hadn't seen before, and it was a ride.

I will admit that the big reason why this one holds up to me is for the nostalgia. I was 5 or 6 years old when this was coming out, so I grew up with the hype for Episode I. How do I look at it now though? Is it flawed? Oh, yeah! But are there redeeming qualities? For me, there are. I can perfectly understand why people are so upset with the prequels, but if you can't at least take something good from them, than you're really only pouting because it didn't go exactly how you wanted it too.

-on a break. be back soon.-